Best laptop docking stations of 2021VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
Included in this guide:1 StarTechThunderbolt 3 Dual-4K Docking Station2 TargusUSB 3.0 Dual Video Docking Station with Power3 KensingtonUSB 3.0 Docking Station4 ToshibaDynadock V3.0+5 MicrosoftSurface Dock6 DellUSB 3.0 UHD Triple Video Docking Station7 WavlinkUniversal Docking Station8 CorsairTBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock9 J5CreateJUD500 USB 3.0 Ultra Station10 PlugableUD-3900 Universal Laptop Docking StationThe best laptop docking stations can make using your laptop so much more comfortable and convenient. They can instantly expand the functionality of your laptop, adding more ports and allowing you to connect external monitors - all while charging your laptop as well. Docking stations can be particularly useful for remote workers and anyone who has now find they are working from home a lot more. These handy peripherals, like USB-C docks, can effectively turn your laptop into a feature-packed desktop replacement. Slim and light laptops, like the MacBook, often come with a limited selection of ports, so these docking stations are an ideal solution if you struggle to plug in extra USB devices. This is why we've included several of the best MacBook docking stations in our roundup. With this guide, well dive into all the best laptop docking stations thatll give you everything you need to stay productive and to turn your trusted laptop into a fully-featured work machine. Make sure you check out our guide to the best laptops as well, where we highlight the top devices money can buy.
The most advanced docking station ever?SpecificationsPorts: 2 Thunderbolt 3, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, DisplayPort, USB Type A, 2 3.5mm mini jack Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart View at Amazon Reasons to buy+Uses only one cord+Plenty of ports Reasons to avoid-Expensive for a docking station StarTech claims its Thunderbolt 3 docking station is the most advanced dock ever. Often, docking stations require multiple leads, but StarTechs latest offering avoids that. The device has been designed to work with thinner notebooks and uses only one cord. As the name suggests, it supports dual 4K displays (at 60Hz) and harnesses the raw power of Thunderbolt 3, offering 40Gbps bandwidth while keeping portability in mind. Thats not all, though. It can be used with up to three USB 3.0 devices and you also get Gigabit Ethernet capability. Theres also the ability to charge mobile devices, and you benefit from Direct DisplayPort integration. This accessory will set you back a couple of hundred, which is a hefty whack, but not a bad investment if youre in the market for a powerful dock. Dock and chargeSpecificationsPorts: USB 3.0, HDMI, DVI, USB 2.0, 2 3.5mm mini jack Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy+Speedy USB 3.0 connections+Useful for storage Reasons to avoid-Not a huge range of ports-Ethernet connection needs adaptor Targus offers this Dual Video Docking Station which wont break the bank, and comes with integrated laptop recharging facilities that are compatible with most 90W notebooks. So even if youve forgotten your charger, youll be good to go with this nifty device. You can hook up two displays to this dock, and in terms of ports, you get a pair of USB 3.0 ports, alongside a pair of USB 2.0 connectors, plus two powered USB 2.0 ports, and Gigabit Ethernet. Targus also offers a Multiplexer Adaptor which makes this docking station USB-C compatible. Well known brandSpecificationsPorts: USB 3.0, HDMI, DVI, USB 2.0, Ethernet port Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart View at Dell Reasons to buy+Easy to use+High speed data transfers Reasons to avoid-Some Windows 10 support issues Kensington is a well-known and respected brand which has developed a reputation for its docking stations. Its latest USB 3.0 model can be used with MacBook or Windows laptops. This device will let you transform one USB port into six (it sports four USB 2.0 ports around the back, and a pair of USB 3.0 affairs on the front). You also get a DVI connector and adapters to use it with either HDMI or VGA leads, and theres an optional multi-display adapter for hooking up more than one monitor. Some users have reported that Windows 10 doesn't always automatically recognize it, so you may need to download new drivers from the Kensington support page. It sits nicely next to your laptop, and is affordably priced it really is one of the best laptop docking stations around right now. Toshiba is another big tech name that makes laptop docking stations. The Dynadock V3.0 is one of the firms most popular offerings, and is targeted at Windows laptop users who want to benefit from expanded capabilities. Like most docking stations nowadays, the Dynadock offers USB 3.0 ports, although more than many as you get four of these here. There is also a DVI connector (with adapters for HDMI or VGA) along with an Ethernet port, and the dock uses one cable connection for ease-of-use and portability. And because the Dynadock sports an upright design, itll fit nicely on even the most cramped desk environment. Microsoft's accomplished dockSpecificationsPorts: 2 x Mini DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet, 4 x USB 3.0, audio-out jack View at Best Buy View at Amazon View at Walmart Reasons to buy+Looks neat and stylish+Ideal for Microsoft Surface products Reasons to avoid-More expensive than similar options Microsoft is a company known primarily for its software prowess, but in recent years, it has been increasingly working on the hardware front. The Surface line-up of tablet hybrids demonstrates this perfectly. If you own one, youll be happy to learn that you can also reap the rewards offered by a docking station. The Surface Dock will let you turn your Surface convertible into a fully-fledged desktop PC. Its compatible with the Surface Pro 3, Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book. Connectivity-wise, there are two Mini DisplayPorts, one Gigabit Ethernet port, four USB 3.0 ports and an audio-out jack. This dock doesnt come particularly cheap, though. A dock for Dell's ownSpecificationsPorts: 3x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, DisplayPort, 2x HDMI, Ethernet, 2 x audio jack Prime View at Amazon View at Dell View at Walmart Reasons to buy+Nice design+4K display support Reasons to avoid-Works best with Dell products-More expensive than alternative products Although there are universal laptop docking stations out there, of course, many models are built by manufacturers for their own notebooks. Dells USB 3.0 dock exemplifies this. It works with most of the companys latest laptops in the Inspiron series and, like much of the competition, uses USB 3.0 as the prevalent port it has three USB 3.0 connectors, along with two USB 2.0 ports. As the name suggests, 4K screens are catered for, and you get a DisplayPort along with a pair of HDMI ports, meaning you can hook up a total of three external monitors (one of them 4K) if you wish. Dell bundles an HDMI to DVI adapter, to support older displays still using DVI, and this dock also boasts an Ethernet port along with audio/headphone jacks. A powerful and flexible docking stationSpecificationsPorts: 2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet, audio Prime View at Amazon Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart Reasons to buy+Supports HMDI and DVI/VGA+6 USB ports+Budget pricing Reasons to avoid-Only one year warranty The Wavlink Universal Docking Station is a very versatile piece of kit that is compatible not just with Windows machines but also Intel-based Macs. It includes dual display outputs for monitors, and it supports HMDI and DVI/VGA displays with resolutions of up to 2048 x 1152. In theory this means you can expand you laptop to have three display monitors. There are also no less than six USB ports, two of which are Superspeed USB 3.0, with the other four being USB 2.0 for use with other hardware such as printers, keyword, scanner, or a digital camera. There's also an Ethernet port, as well as earphone and mic audio sockets. This is a strong and flexible piece of hardware that comes in at a surprisingly low price. 85W power delivery and all the ports you needSpecificationsPorts: 2x HDMI 2.0, Ethernet, 2x USB Type A, 2x USB-C, 3.5mm, SD card reader, Kensington lock Prime View at Amazon View at Dell View at Walmart Reasons to buy+85W charging+Can connect up to two monitors Reasons to avoid-Possible intermittent disconnections If youre willing to splurge on the docking station, Corsairs TBT100 is an excellent option with a host of ports that will let you connect up to two 4K monitors, two USB-C devices, and a UHS-II SD card reader, to start. It also offers 85W charging ideal for 15-inch laptops and smaller. Thats while keeping things slim in the form factor department. Its not a perfect dock, and Corsairs quality control could be better as some users have experienced intermittent disconnections, but those without issues have a robust docking station ideal for multi-tasking. Read the full review: Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock The J5Create Ultra Station is a neat and compact dock indeed, being a thin bar which you can attach to the back of your notebook. It provides a variety of connectivity options for Windows laptops and MacBooks: you get a pair of USB 3.0 ports (one of which has power for charging) and a USB 2.0 port, along with VGA and HDMI ports, Ethernet, plus speaker and mic jacks. However, thats not all. Theres also a nifty wormhole USB connection that allows you to hook up another computer as well as your initial laptop and do things like share files by simply dragging and dropping them across from machine to machine. This can also be used to share your keyboard and mouse between devices, and works cross-platform (i.e. you can hook up and share things between a Windows notebook and MacBook). Budget option for high-res HMDISpecificationsPorts: 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet, audio View at Walmart View at Walmart Check Amazon Reasons to buy+Low cost model+Good display resolution Reasons to avoid-Limited display support-Windows only The Plugable USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station for Windows makes for a strong budget option for those who want extra connections. The specs include a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (5Gbps) link from PC to dual video, as well as connections for Ethernet, audio input/output, and two USB 3.0 ports. The HDMI port can support a single display of up to 2560x1440, though if two displays are set up this reduces the maximum resolution to 1920x1200. However, it is only compatible for Windows machines. Additional limitations are that it cannot be mixed with non-DisplayLink USB graphic adapters, such as MCT, j5, or SMSC. It also doesn't support DVI dual-link or Displayport connections, HDCP, or the playback of protected Blu-ray disks. Despite these limitations it's still a useful piece of budget hardware that's good for many uses.
Round up of today's best deals Reduced Price StarTech.com Thunderbolt 3... StarTech Thunderbolt 3 Dual-4K Docking Amazon $342.99 $278.95 See all prices Targus Universal USB 3.0 Dual... Targus USB 3.0 Dual Video Docking Amazon $109.99 See all prices Reduced Price Kensington SD3500v 5Gbps USB... Kensington SD3500v Walmart $309.99 $136.13 See all prices Toshiba Dynadock V3.0+ Toshiba Dynadock V3.0+ Amazon $240.49 See all prices Microsoft - Surface Dock 2 -... Microsoft Surface Dock 2 Best Buy $259.99 See all prices Dell USB 3.0 Ultra HD/4K... Dell D3100 Amazon $118 See all prices WAVLINK USB 3.0 Universal... Wavlink Universal Docking Station Amazon $84.80 See all prices CORSAIR TBT100 - Docking... Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt Docking Dell $249.99 See all prices Reduced Price j5create USB 3.0 Ultra... J5Create JUD500 USB 3.0 Ultra Station Amazon $99.99 $89.99 See all prices Reduced Price Plugable UD-3900 - Docking... Plugable UD-3900 Dual Display Universal Walmart $134.99 $99 See all prices powered by
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